Web-based search and bidding system and method

ABSTRACT

A method of accepting a bid for an item offered for sale through an internet web portal comprising the following steps: listing with an internet web portal bid program by an item being sold by a merchant; accessing the internet web portal bid program by a user to obtain of bid information of the item; placing with the internet web portal bid program by the registered user of a bid for the item, the bid containing a price that the registered user will pay for the item; presenting by the internet web portal bid program to the registered merchant of one or more economic factors to assist the registered merchant in selecting at least one bid from the one or more bids as a winning bid, one or more economic factors being based on item information and being other than the bid price.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may relate to web-based searching and biddingmethods and systems. More particularity to those web-based searching andbidding methods and systems that compare and contrast items, products,services or the like that are available for purchase or sale through theinternet.

BACKGROUND

Various data and information can be accessed through a global system ofinterconnected computer networks that uses a standardized protocol tolink several billion devices worldwide (e.g., the internet) that is usedto support an operation of an information system (e.g., world wide webor www) that allows documents to be connected to other documents byprotocol-based (http) links, enabling the user to search for informationby moving from one document to another.

The information system may be used to search and locate data on desireditems (e.g., a good, service, information or the like) that a person isdesirous to obtain as well as obtain a sufficient amount of comparativeinformation to make an informed and judicious purchase for such an itemthrough the internet. The websites and web portals that may be visitedduring such an information search include ones that only providedescriptive information about the item class as well as those whichfurther provide cost, purchase and point of sale information about theitem within the class. In conducting such an information search, anoperator or user may use one or more search engines (e.g., searchprograms that utilizing character or text association searchcapabilities to locate and access websites/web portals that have saidsame or similar text or characters located with the website/portal.)Once such web search is conducted and a suitable list of webportals/websites containing the desired texted generated by the searchengine in response to the search request, the list may be so enabled toprovide links (e.g., hypertext) linking to the websites/web portals onthe list may then be activated to open a window (e.g., visual display)for each website or portal so selected. The user may then attempt toobtain the desired information from viewing the presented pages of theselected website or portal as shown through the respective widow. Usingthe information as presented from the one or more respective windows,the user may make a choice about an item and then subsequently purchasethe item through the internet (or through non-internet based procurementmeans—e.g., calling the retail merchant directly to order and pay forthe product.)

One possible significant inconvenience, if not an outright impedance,provided by such an information and purchasing online system (andassociated method[s] of operation and use) is the need for the user tosubstantially juggle several online windows at once to compare and sortcontrasting or conflicting information taken from each online window oneat a time in into a single source or presentation (e.g., a singlewindow.) Another possible inconvenience is that these multiple windowtype online searches are generally considered to be a horizontal search(e.g., gathering data from distinct and different databases) rather thana more efficient vertical search (e.g., refining the search resultsstarting from a wide search spectrum of s single database to a morenarrow search spectrum.) Both inconveniences could result in a user timeloss as well as increased user frustration, something that e-sellers ofsuch products to the user wish to avoid because such user frustrationcould result in long term loss of sales revenues: impaired item searchand comparison capability could mean more user (customers) take longertime to make e-purchases (slowing inventory turnover for sellers anddecreasing profits) or worse frustrated users ultimately fail tocomplete the purchases at all.

What could be needed therefore is the present invention that couldproviding a large online single source retail item mega database thatlists the item or product inventories of more than 75,000 retailmerchants (combined inventory of over 25,000,000 items) further coupledwith an expedited item vertical search capabilities specializing in itemcomparison that could allow faster more efficient customer purchaseresolution than could be obtained from a wide spread horizontal searchof multiple online individual retailer databases. The expedited verticalsearch and comparison capability could be further coupled to socialmedia interaction means to generally allow the customer to interact withdesired social media substantially simultaneously with the itemsearching to provide a customer retention means.

SUMMARY OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Advantages of One or MoreEmbodiments of the Present Invention

The various embodiments of the present invention may, but do notnecessarily, achieve one or more of the following advantages:

to provide a web portal with a product search and purchase capabilitycombined with an streaming or scrolling banner of an interactive,real-time presentation of user's personal social media information,text, email, news, stocks, directed advertisement and the like, theactivation of interactive text as presented by the scrolling bannerbrings up another web page presenting greater detail on the activatedinteractive text;

the ability of a web portal to conduct a product item search on awebpage that further continuously streams personalized media data aboutthe user in an interactive format that can redirect the user to adesired personal social media webpage;

provide an web portal with online product item research and procurementcapability along with a simultaneous, real-time, user personalizedsocial media presentation and access;

the ability of an online product research and purchasing web portal topresent a scrolling tickertape display of real time information fromvarious information sources as selected by the individual web portaluser;

provide an online product research and purchasing web portal havingaccess to its own merchandize database of a multitude of merchants, theweb portal also providing a scrolling tickertape display showinginformation from a web portal user's account from one or more socialmedia websites;

the ability of an online product research and purchasing web portal toassociated a user-seller based interactive bid function for the purchaseof a product item with a bid compilation formulation and resultingdisplay that provides the participating seller or merchant (providingthe product item being bid upon) with information to select that user'sbid amount that would be the most advantageous (i.e., profit wise) toseller/merchant upon which to close the bidding;

provide an online product research and purchasing web portal havingaccess to its own merchandize database of a multitude of merchants, theweb portal also providing a scrolling tickertape display upon the webportals homepage showing information and from one or more news orinformation sources that are selected by the user, the information andnews being presented in a scrolling tickertape display;

the ability of an online product research and purchasing web portal toprovide the web portal user with a product item price watch functionthat sends an alert to the user based upon the product item pricemeeting a price as set by the user;

provide an online product research and purchasing web portal havingaccess to its own merchandise database comprised of a multitude ofmerchants, the web portal also providing a scrolling tickertape displayshowing emails and texts addressed to the respective web portal user;and

the ability of an online product research and purchasing web portal toprovide the web portal user with directed advertising, the directedadvertising being presented to the user upon the home page of the webportal in a scrolling tickertape display along with other informationthat the user has directed to be displayed upon the tickertape display.

These and other advantages may be realized by reference to the remainingportions of the specification, claims, and abstract.

Brief Description of One Embodiment of the Present Invention

One possible embodiment of the invention could be a method of acceptinga bid for purchasing an item offered for sale through an internet webportal comprising the following steps: listing for bid with an Internetweb portal bid program of an item being sold by a merchant, the merchantbeing previously registered with the internet web portal; accessing theinternet web portal bid program by a user to obtain of information forthe bid item, the user being previously registered with the internet webportal; placing with the internet web portal bid program by theregistered user of a bid for the item, the bid containing a price thatthe registered user will pay for the bid item; accessing the internetweb portal bid program by the registered merchant to obtain bidinformation on one or more bids for the bid item as placed by registereduser and any other biding registered users; presenting by the internetweb portal bid program to the registered merchant of one or moreeconomic factors other than the bid price to assist the registeredmerchant in accepting at least one bid from the one or more bids for thebid item, and processing as a sale by the registered merchant of atleast one bid from the one or more bids for the bid item.

Another possible invention could be a method of accepting a bid forpurchasing an item for sale through an internet web portal comprisingthe following steps: listing for bid with an internet web portal bidprogram by an item being sold by merchant; placing a bid for the itemwith the internet web portal bid program by the user, the bid containinga price that the user will pay for the item; accessing the internet webportal bid program by the merchant to obtain bid information on one ormore bids for the bid item as placed by the user and any other biddinguser; presenting by the internet web portal bid program to the merchantof one or more economic factors other than bid price to assist as thosefactors relate to a particular bid for the item; changing at least onevalue of the one or more economic factors by changing the value of a bidamount that the merchant will be willing to accept as a winning bid; andprocessing by the merchant of at least one winning bid from the one ormore bids for the bid item as a sale.

The above description sets forth, rather broadly, a summary of oneembodiment of the present invention so that the detailed descriptionthat follows may be better understood and contributions of the presentinvention to the art may be better appreciated. Some of the embodimentsof the present invention may not include all of the features orcharacteristics listed in the above summary. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that could be described below andcould form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, beforeexplaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of the construction and to the arrangement ofthe components set forth in the following description or as illustratedin the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are forthe purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 substantially shows typical hardware architecture for the presentinvention.

FIG. 1A substantially shows a screen capture of the front or home pageof the web portal of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is substantially shows a screen capture of a screen ofinternet-based search results of the web portal of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of databasesearch results using the refine functionality of the web portal of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of a databasesearch using the filters & sort functionality of the web portal of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of a databasesearch using the watch functionality of the web portal of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of a databasesearch using the watch functionality overlay display for setting theuser's price of the web portal of the present invention.

FIG. 6A substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of a databasesearch using the watch functionality overlay display showing all theitems being watched of the web portal of the present invention.

FIG. 7 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of a databasesearch using the share functionality of the web portal of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of the receivedtext message as sent using the share functionality of the web portal ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of resultingpage from clicking the link on the text message issued by the web portalof the present invention.

FIG. 10 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of a databasesearch using the compare functionality of the web portal of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 substantially shows a screen capture of a second screen of thewatch functionality of the web portal of the present invention.

FIG. 12 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of a databasesearch when the search is limited to stores category of the web portalof the present invention.

FIG. 13 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of a databasesearch the search is limited to products category of the web portal ofthe present invention.

FIG. 14 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of a databasesearch the search is limited to brands category of the web portal of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14A substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of a bid meterscreen of the present invention.

FIG. 14B substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of a bidplacement screen of the present invention.

FIG. 14C substantially shows a flow chart for one possible embodiment ofthe bidding process for the present invention.

FIG. 15 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of local dealsside column with narrowed search results of the web portal of thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of local dealsside column with narrowed search results of the web portal of thepresent invention.

FIG. 17 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of coupon sidecolumn with narrowed search results of the web portal of the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of coupon sidecolumn with narrowed search results of the web portal of the presentinvention.

FIG. 18A substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of specialoffers side column with narrowed search results of the web portal of thepresent invention.

FIG. 18B substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of SpecialOffers side column with narrowed search results of the web portal of thepresent invention.

FIG. 19 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of tickertapedisplay the present invention of the web portal of the presentinvention.

FIG. 20 substantially shows another screen capture of a screen oftickertape display of the web portal of the present invention.

FIG. 21 substantially shows a screen capture of a screen of homepagewith New User Signup interactive button of the web portal of the presentinvention.

FIG. 22 substantially shows a screen capture of a signup overlay screenfor the user's initial registration of the web portal of the presentinvention.

FIG. 23 substantially shows a screen capture of the remainder of thesignup overlay screen for the user's initial registration of the webportal of the present invention.

FIG. 24 substantially shows a screen capture of confirming registrationemail sent by the web portal of the present invention.

FIG. 25 substantially shows a screen capture of an initial registrationcomplete screen the web portal of the present invention.

FIG. 26 substantially shows a screen capture of a log in screen for theweb portal of the present invention.

FIG. 27 substantially shows a screen capture of verify social mediasettings screen for the web portal of the present invention.

FIG. 28 substantially shows a screen capture of confirming permissionscreen for the web portal of the present invention.

FIG. 29 substantially shows a screen capture of allow postingconfirmation screen for the web portal of the present invention.

FIG. 30 substantially shows a screen capture of second social mediawebsite access screen for the web portal of the present invention.

FIG. 31 substantially shows a screen capture of login/log on secondscreen for the web portal of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specificembodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention could comprise web-based search and bidding systemwith the system capable of directly accessing to a retail item megadatabase comprising of a combined inventories of over 75,000 onlineretail merchants (e.g., providing information and procurement access toover 25,000,000 items) and a method of operating same 200. The presentinvention's search engine in accessing this retail merchant megadatabase could be seen as offering the user a vertical penetrationsearch ability that could lead to quicker and faster user decisions onpoint of sale purchases. Such decisions are substantially desirable byboth the participating user and the retail merchants whose inventoriesrepresented in the database.

As substantially shown in FIG. 1, the invention 10 generally operatesthrough a network of networks running a comprise multitudes of serversfound through the world and hosting the WWW service as better known asthe internet 20. An internet service provider (e.g., ISP) 22 couldprovide the gateway or conduit for a user 24 engaging those services togain access to the data through the present inventions (e.g., atelecommunication means: satellite network system, cable networksystems, telephone systems, and alike.) The user 24 could have asuitable computing capability 26 (e.g., a computer with human interfaceand suitable processing abilities as well as memory capacity for storingdata, programs and running programs that can process data and storeprocess data results such a lap top computer, desk top computer, smartphone, hand-held computer pads and phones [e.g., Ipad®; Iphone®] andother such smart devices) that directly links to the telecommunicationsmeans. The user's computing capability 26 should have an internet searchprogram to allow access to the internet and www to reach the invention'sweb portal (website) wherein the invention's search function program canaccess the mega-combined merchant inventories database. In at least oneembodiment of the invention 10, at least one merchant 30 whose inventoryis listed in the mega database could similarly have another computingcapability 26 separate from that of the seller's computing capability 26that should have an internet search program to allow access to theinternet and www to reach the inventions portal (website) 28 whereinmerchant 30 can interact with the invention's internet web portal 20regarding a user's bid placed on an item being sold by the merchant 30through the invention's web portal.

The inventions search and bidding internet web portal 28 that can accessand search a mega database can comprise of one or more servers 24 thatconnects to an internet service provider 22 to gain access to theinternet 20. These servers 24 can host various programs such as a searchengine program, bid programs and other programs and associateddatabases. Similarly, the web portal for accessing mega database canalso comprise of one or more servers 24 connected to an internet serviceprovider 22. These servers 24 can host programs for managing andaccessing the mega database 32.

The vertical searching process of items offered for sale though theinvention's web portal 28 could be started using the interactive mainsearch bar 36 presented on the front or home page 38 of the invention'sweb portal as substantially shown in FIG. 1A. The main search bar 36 isgenerally visually presented as border-delineated search tool bar 40 onthe first or front webpage 38 of the invention's web portal. Within thesearch tool bar border is search text entry window 42 (labeled “Search”)and several other interactive search functionalities that could work inconjunction with search text entry window 42 to allow the user (notshown—and generally seen as the “online user” rather than the “weboperator” running the website and search functionalities or the merchantthat is offering items for sale by the inventions web portal) to rapidlyobtain desired item search results with associated applicable iteminformation and then provide the user with additional subsequent searchrefinement tools to further allow the user to refine and narrow theinitially returned search result information in a vertical search mannerrather than a horizontal search manner.

Graphically, the search text entry window could accept entry of text bya user through the users interface (generally shown in FIG. 1.) The usercould enter terms, symbols or the alike into the search text window toinitiate the search for desired items for sale (using a enter key tohave the system act upon the entered term[s]). Generally located at thetop of the search tool bar one or more labeled interactive searchparameter keys or buttons controlling several default levels throughwhich the search tool bar could operate. In one embodiment, the searchparameter keys or buttons could have the individual labels of Home 44,Stores 46, Product 48, Brand 50 and the like. The Home button 44activation sets the search tool bar's initial search at it the broadestsearch parameters for the search and is also the default searchparameters. The Stores, Product or Brand tabs or keys 44, 46, 48 couldalternately function to further narrow or restrict the search scope orparameters on the search tool bar's initial search by limiting thereturning initial search results to various narrowing categories ofstores, product type or product brand names. In one possible embodimentnot shown, activation of an additional key could be used to redirect theuser from the home page to non-search functionalities located on otherweb pages of the invention's website such an online chat board or likefor possible discussion topics related to the product being searched.

As substantially shown in FIG. 12, after clicking upon to activate theStores key (button or tab), a stores search window 52 generally opens todisplay a stores text window that allows the user to enter the name of astore or store chain that the user interested in searching theirmerchandise. If that store sought is a Merchant partner of the webportal (e.g., a merchant whose merchandize inventory is part of the megadatabase, then resulting search returns could display the Merchantpartner's store in the search return. Upon entering the desired storename, the web portal could return the user to the home page with all ofthe merchandise inventory from that store segregated for searching bythe home page search function for further selected product itemsearching by the user.

Alternatively, the user can click upon a letter of a horizontal alphabetlisting 56 located below the stores search window 52 to display all ofweb portal's partnered merchant's stores whose names begin with thatletter could be displayed in the search results. The user then picks thedesired store name (e.g., an interactive listing) from the store namesearch results to have the web portal segregate that stores merchandiseinventory for the home search and the user is redirected back to thehome page for product item search on that specific inventory.

As substantially shown in FIG. 13, the user activates the Product tab orkey 50 to display a dropdown products menu screen 58 that overlays thehome or front page. The screen 58 presents a vertical list of productitem categories in alphabetical order (e.g., dolls, power tools, etc.)to find that particular product. When the particular product type isselected by the user, the dropdown screen rolls up and out of the way tobring the user back to the home page where all of the products from allof our partnered Merchants for that particular product type could bedisplayed on the Home Page. The user can then further engage the MainSearch Bar to search through the displayed products to find the desiredproduct item.

As substantially shown in FIG. 14, the user by engaging the interactiveBrand button or tab 50 to cause the Brand search screen 60 to overlaythe front or home page. The Brand screen 60 provides in a similar manneras the Store functionality as the Store button with an the ability tosearch for the desired favorite brand by either typing in a word or likein the Brands text box 62 or by clicking on the letter in thealpha-numeric listing below the search window that represents the firstletter of the product brand sought. After the user selects theappropriate letter (or types in the brand search word in the text box),the search could present a search result of all of the brands that beginwith the letter selected/related to the typed in word. The user clickingon the desired brand in the search results could cancel the brandsoverlaying search screen to return the user to the home page to displaythat the selected product items of that Brand from all of our partneredmerchants. The user can then further engage the Main Search Bar tosearch down through the displayed brand products to find the desiredproduct item.

As substantially shown in FIG. 1, the proximate to the search text entrywindow 42 could be located “Shop” and “Web Search” labeled interactivebuttons 64, 66. The “Shop” button 64 when activated (or clicked upon)could compare the terms or symbols entered into the search text entrywindow 42 with the mega database and display the item or product searchresults in the Search Results Display Window 68 located below the searchtext entry window 42, the displayed search results generally correlateto the inputted terms or symbols. Similarly, the “Web Search” button 66when activated or clicked instead of searching the mega database couldotherwise access and openly search through the World Wide Web (i.e.,www) with the terms or symbols imputed through the search text entrywindow 42. As substantially shown in FIG. 2, the web product searchresult so compiled, like the megadatabase search results, could bedisplayed below the text window in Search Results Display Window 68Window being shown in a list-type format often used by various websearch engines (e.g., Google®, Bing® and the like).

As substantially shown in FIG. 3, between the search text entry window42 and the Search Results Display Window 68 could be further located theRefine Search text window 70 into which additional or secondary searchterms, symbols or alike can be entered to further restrict or narrow thesearch text entry window's original product search results. The “GO”Button next to the Refine Search text window 70 could be clicked orotherwise used to activate the narrowing or refining of returned initialsearch results or the search itself once the text, symbols or alike havebeen entered into Refine Search text window 70.

As substantially shown in FIG. 4, located below the refine search textwindow text are the interactive Filter & Sort button 72. Thisinteractive functionality upon suitable activation could cause theappearance of a Filter & Sort dropdown screen 74 that presents a set ofpre-existing search organizational parameters (to sort or otherwiseprioritize the presentment of any products search results obtained fromthe search tool bar) Apply Filters button 76, and Reset Filters button78. The filters organizational parameters presented could include: “sortby relevance”, “item price—most expensive to least expensive”; “itemprice—least expensive to most expensive”; “item name A-Z; item nameZ-A”; “merchant name A-Z”; “merchant name z-A” and the like. The usercould select and activate (click upon) the listed desired parameter fromthe dropdown screen and then activate the “Apply Filters” button 76 toapply that parameter to the displayed search results to organize thepresentment of the displayed search result accordingly. If thatparameter is no longer desired or a new parameter is desired, the “ResetFilters” button 78 can be activated to delete the selected parameterand/or allow the user to select a new organizational parameter. When aselected parameter is applied to the product search results, theselected organizational parameter identification could be shown to theright of the Reset Filters button.

Below Filter & Sort drop down window could be located a search termsbreadcrumbs trail window 80 which could show in outline fashion theoriginal search terms and subsequently entered search refinement termsenlisted to refine or narrow the product search or its returns. Aninteractive “X” symbol placed in the breadcrumbs trial window 80 priorto each of the additional search refinement terms could be clicked uponto eliminate a respective additional search terms from the search tofurther modify or refine the search as desired by the user. The breadcrumb trail window 80 could further show the search terms as modified assuch.

The search return or search results of the internet search, the megadatabase search and alike can be displayed below main search bar. The“showing . . . results” visual display, which could show the number ofitems referenced in the results. The “showing . . . results” displaylocated to the right of the search text window could display the numberof items found and number of display pages of items found. The “showing. . . results” display could be interactive to allow the user to selectthe number of an individual display page to bring up and display uponsearch results or return display window.

Once a product search (mega database only) results have been compiledand displayed via search results display window, each product item sodisplayed can be shown in an respective individualized item frame 82containing the item's written identification along with a posted pictureor graphic representation of the item, an abridged description of thedisplayed item and a set of Buy, Watch, Share and Compare interactivebuttons 84, 86, 88, 90.

The prior to the user's activation of the interactive “Watch” buttoncould first require the user to initially registration with theinvention's web portal with basic user contact information so that theuser's contact information can be subsequently stored in an encrypteddatabase of the web portal. As substantially shown in FIG. 5, uponsubsequent sign-in or sign-on by the user (e.g. registered with theportal to access certain functionalities of the web portal) to the webportal, the user's previously stored and protected contact informationmay then be accessed by the invention's servers (providing the webportal) to further allow the invention (e.g., web portal) to identifythe user as being previously registered with the web portal. Thisidentification of the user allow the user to access and activate of(e.g., “clicking on”) the Watch button 86 enables the user though theWatch functionality to have the invention send the user to get antelecommunication message alert (e.g., e-mail or text message orboth—not shown) as issued by the invention's web portal using user'spreviously entered and stored telecommunication's identity. This watchalert message is sent out whenever, the price of the selected productitem as displayed in the search result and subsequently being “watched”by the web portal changes (e.g., the merchant offering the watchedproduct item, changes [e.g., reduces] the price of the product item.)Additionally, the Watch functionality may further allow the user to seta price cutoff limit or value so that the electronic alert is onlyissued by the system if the watched product items price meets or goeslower than the user's price cutoff limit or value the prices of the allthe products user are interested in on a single page.

When the user activates the Watch button 86, the color of the Watchbutton 86 may change colors (e.g., from black to orange) to identify andreminder to the user to which product items are being watched. OnceWatch button 86 is so activated, a Watch drop down screen 92 maysubstantially overlay the front page, as substantially shown in FIG. 6.The Watch drop down screen may present a set of interactive Watch radiobuttons to allow the user to choose only one of a predefined set ofoptions: namely one radio button upon activation that generally allowsthe user to set the price alert for the Watched selected product itemaccording to any change in the price; and a second alternative radiobutton also allows the user to set a price alert got the Watchedselected product item. The second alternative radio button further hasan associated monetary value text field next to it. The user'sactivation of second radio button allows the user to input into theWatch monetary value text screen 96 a price value as desired by the userfor the Watched selected product item. Upon activation of a third UpdateWatched List labeled button 98, the user's selection of buttons A or B(and users' set price value for the watched item as appropriate) isimputed in the watch list system for the product items being watched bythe web portal for the user.

As substantially shown in FIG. 6A, a Watch List screen 100 issubsequently generated as a front page overlay page once all the secondWatch screens for the watched items have been completed. The Watch Listscreen 100 is generally populated generally with copies of the watchedproduct items' individualized frame 82. These frames 82 respectivelydisplay information such as when watch began; when the watch was lastupdated and the product item's current price. If a set price value dropoption was employed, the monetary value text field displays thepreviously set user price. If the user so desires can enter new valuedata into the monetary value text field to change the user's set price.Upon User's activation of Watch Save button 102 next to the field theuser's updated set price is set within the watch list database.

Each individualized items frames 82 of the watched items also have theinteractive buttons (e.g., buy, share, compare, etc.) of the non-watcheditem frames with the exception of the Watch buttons have been replacedby a respective interactive Discard button (displaying an “X”—notshown). The Discard button upon user activation allows the user toremove or discard a respective selected product item from the watchlist. In this manner, the user may then engage the Buy, Compare, Sharebutton functionalities as shown on the item display from the Watch listpage. Upon setup of the watch list page an interactive Small “x” buttonmay be active to close out the watch list screen.

After a preset price notification is triggered through the Watchfunctionality, system could issue a telecommunications electronicnotification to the user telecommunication device; the watch list couldbe updated so that when User accesses the Watch List page, the notifiedwatched product listing could further display the date and time of theUser's telecommunication notification on the Watch list Page. Further,the Home or Front Page could display an “Alerts” notification bar(indicating that the system has issued telecommunication alert to theUser) in addition to displaying the number of watched product items onthe right side of the Search Bar.

The “Share” button functionality on a respective product item returnframe generally enables the user to transmit product item information toothers via electronic message service (e.g., email or text message.)This functionality further allows the user to access their emailcontacts database for email purposes as well as entering multiple phonenumbers for text messaging purposes. As substantially shown in FIG. 7,upon activation, the “Share” button brings up a separate Share displaypage 104 overlaying the front or home page that shows information andimages of the selected product item. This Share display page furthervisually supports two electronic message service options (e.g., email onthe left side and text on the right side.) This option has text windowsfor entering email addresses or phone numbers. The activation of thisShare functionality web portal could activate user email softwareplatform (not shown) on the user's electronic device (e.g., user'scomputer) that the user is using to access the invention's web portal.This activation of the user's email software platform could display andpopulate on the users electronic device an email form in that emailplatform with the user's email address identifying user as the sender ofthe email and with basic information from the search regarding theselected product item. In this manner, the user can add additionalcomments to the body of the email or send the email to parties asgenerated by the web portal to selected third parties.

Additionally or alternatively, a text message can be generated andissued by the system after activating the appropriate interactive SendMessage button (e.g., after inputting the user name, the recipient'sname and recipient's phone number in the appropriate text message textfields, to send out a SMS or text message to another's phone or othersmart device.) After clicking the Send Message button, the Share displaypage could display and interactive “Share Again” button that user couldactivate to bring up blank text screens to input another recipient'scell phone number and name. Clicking the Send Message button may thencause the creation and sending of the new SMS message to the designatedadditional recipient. This aspect of the Share functionality could allowtext messages to be repeatedly sent out to desired third parties about aselected product item.

As substantially show in FIG. 8, the received text message 106 asreceived by the desired third party could display product iteminformation and price upon the third party's electronic device (e.g.,computer, telecommunication's device.) A URL link displayed in themessage could be used to direct the recipient's smart device to awebpage at the invention's web portal displaying additional pictures andinformation of the selected product item as well as an interactive“Learn More” button. As substantially shown in FIG. 9, activating the“Learn More” button, or interactive product titles or picture couldfurther redirect the recipient's electronic device to a webpage of aMerchant's website feature more detailed information about the selectedproduct item.

As substantially shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the activation of the Comparebutton (e.g., per selected product item) places the individual frames 82of the selected items being designated by the user to be displayed upona dropdown Compare screen 110 that substantially overlays the home orfront page. Each of the individual selected item frames on the Comparescreen 110 further display interactive Share and Buy buttons 88, 84 toallow the user to access those functionalities from the Compare screen110 as well as Delete (“X”) Button (that upon activation remove thatproduct item individual frame 82 from the Compare screen.) A displayedinteractive trashcan symbol button upon activation upon user activationcan cause all the displayed selected product item individual frames 82to be removed from the Compare screen. Each displayed product title onthe individual frames 82 is interactive so that clicking on the titlecould redirect the user to a webpage of the website of the merchantfeaturing selected product item to obtain merchant provided detailedproduct description for the selected item. If after reading the detailedproduct description provided by the merchant for that item, the userwishes to eliminate selected item frame form the Compare screen 110, theuser activates the appropriate Delete button to do so. An interactivesmall X button at the top of the Compare screen 110 can be used to closethe Compare Screen 110 when the user is done with that functionality.

The inventions' “Buy” functionality is accessed by activating theinteractive BUY button upon the individual item frame to generallyredirect the user to the retail merchant website that is offering theselected product item for sale. Upon user's Buy button activation, thesystem opens a second page (not shown) on the internet browser (e.g.,separate from the page displaying the system's home page or otherwebpages) that displays the Merchant's website showing the selectedproduct item to allow the user to transact the actual purchase of theselected product item at the merchant's website. By clicking out of themerchant's webpage (upon the conclusion of the purchase transaction),the user will be redirected by the system to return to the home page ofthe invention's web portal.

In at least one embodiment as shown in FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C, aparticipating merchant through its electronic device accessing theinvention's the internet web portal to select one or more items from themerchant's inventory (e.g., that is available through the mega database)to a bidding process provided through the invention's web portal. ThisBID functionality or process may be initiated by the participatingmerchant using the merchant's electronic device and presented interfaceto access and sign into the invention's web portal. Once logged into thesystem, the participating merchant could access the merchant's iteminventory database (as used by the web portal) to select one or moreitems (e.g., by the item's SKU) that could be subject to the biddingprocess. In one possible embodiment, the participating merchant couldselect items by for bidding based on various factors such a geographysuch zip code, city or state to possible act as an attractant topotential bidders living in those areas. As shown in FIG. 14A, in onepossible embodiment, Merchant could access through the internet webportal a web bid meter page 160 for each item selected for biding. Thebid meter page 160 could have a bid item identification text window 162for accepting the bid item's SKU or other information for loading theitem up for bid. Once the item identification information is entered,the invention's bid program could cross reference the mega database topull up relevant item information for bidding of the item and populatestatic economic factors windows 164 affecting a selected bid's impactupon the merchant's profit or loss for the bid item. Alternatively, themerchant could manually enter into the bid meter page at appropriaterespective text windows 164 the static economic information of factorsregarding the bid item. The static economic factors could include suchfactors as the item's manufacturer's suggested retail price, merchant'sactual purchase price of item, merchant's item sale price. The bidprogram could take a bid value and calculate the effects of staticeconomic factors against to determine values to be displayed in merchantloss and profit displays 166. The merchant can set through the bid valuewindow 168 at this time the minimal acceptable bid value (with theprogram further calculating and showing the merchant's loss and profitsin the displays.) At this time (pre bid process) an activation of acceptbutton 184 on the bid meter page can enter that bid value in the bidprogram as the minimum bid value that the merchant will accept for thebid item. If a user during the bidding process submits a bid lower thatvalue as set by the merchant, the bid program could reject the user'sbid. In one embodiment such a minimum bid level is not disclosed tousers bidding upon the item. In other embodiments, the minimum bidamount could disclosed through the system to users biding upon the biditem (e.g., after the winning bids have been accepted by the merchant.)The bid value display window 168 can show the bid value as entered bythe merchant. In one possible embodiment, the participating merchantuses the sliding button 170 to adjust the numerical value shown on thebid value display window to threshold or minimum bid level that will beaccepted by the merchant (e.g., accepted by the system) for a particularbid item.

As the merchant adding those items (e.g., and entered their minimum bidamounts) to be bid upon to the bid database referenced by the bidprogram of the internet web portal (e.g., the bid functionality), thebid program through the system could cause a grayed out Bid button to bedisplayed next to the other action buttons within the individualizedframe for the respective bid item and be actionable by a registered user(e.g., provided that the user has previously supplying with system withnecessary user information such as identification, location informationsuitable payment information [e.g., credit card] to allow the user topractice in the BID Functionality.)

When the user sees that grayed out Bid button is shown on productdisplay window for the selected item and the user wishes to place a bidon an selected item, the user appropriately activates the grayed out Bidbutton. As substantially shown in FIG. 14B, this causes a Bid screen 180to generally overlay the front page and substantially display a bidamount window 182 that could allow user to input and upload a monetarynumeric bid for that selected product item. This Bid screen 180 couldfurther display verbiage containing a warning that if the user's bid issuccessful (e.g., accepted by the participating merchant) then the useris bound to purchase the selected product item at the user's bid priceand that the user's credit card information and authorization on filewith the internet web portal could be used to complete the item sale bythe Merchant at the close of the bidding process. The Bid screen 180could further feature an interactive “I Agree” button 184 to have theuser agree to terms of completing the bid and sale (allowing purchase ofthe item [e.g., using credit card information previously placed with thesystem by the user) and to the other terms of the displayed warning.

Once the user activates “I Agree” button 184 (e.g. clicked upon by theuser) then the system could place the users bid value (and any otherpertinent user information [e.g., number of items wanted in the bid,etc.) in the bid database; the BID screen could present an interactionOK button and could displaying a message (not shown) substantiallystating, “Congratulations! Your bid for the (name of the selectedproduct item) has been successfully placed! Good Luck! Please press theOK button to return to the Wizard.” Once the user clicks upon theinteractive OK button, the web portal retracts or collapses the Bidwindow 180 to return the registered user back to the web portal front orhome page; and further provide that the previously grayed-out “PlaceBid” button would become colored (generally reminding the user that theuser has placed a bid upon the item) and otherwise be actionable by theuser. An interactive X button on the bid screen itself could collapse orclose the screen as well if the User decides not to place a bid on theitem to return the User to the home page.

If prior to acceptance of the bid by the merchant, the user subsequentlypresses upon the colored Bid button within the items individualizedframe that could have the system bring up again the Bid screen 180(along with display text window, etc.) showing the previously submittedmonetary numeric bid for that selected product item. Along with theacceptance button, an interactive Delete “X” button (not shown) couldnow appears on the Bid screen. If the user wishes to change thesubmitting monetary numeric bid for a new bid amount (prior toacceptance of the bid by the Merchant) then the user can do so byentering that data in display text window and activating the acceptancebutton 184 again to update the bid database with the user's new bidprice. In one possible embodiment, if the user wishes to cancel theplaced Bid altogether, the user could activate the Delete button to givethe command (e.g., an AJAX call) to the system to delete the bid fromthe bid database. In another possible embodiment, the bid cancellationcould occur when the user enters a zero numeral amount (e.g., $000.00)or other internet web portal designated cancellation text or symbol inbid amount window 182 and activating the acceptance button 184 to deletethe bid from bid database.

Bid acceptance in one possible embodiment, the merchant could access abid widget (bid acceptance program of the system) to click on which bidsthe merchant wishes to accept. The merchant does not always pick thehighest bid in that the highest bid could be for just one of the bidupon item. A lower bid item could be asking for several of the item andthose facts could provide the merchant with a higher level of profitover a multiple of sales over a higher bid with smaller or just onesale. Other economic factors could be taken into account by the merchantis selecting which bids on an item to accept.

In another possible embodiment of the bid program, the merchant couldaccess the Bid Meter screen (as substantially shown in FIG. 14A) for aparticular bid item for sale through the internet web portal to find outwhat bids had been placed for an item(s). So accessed by theparticipating merchant, the Bid Meter screen could further display a bidamount window 168. The Bid Meter could visually present bid revenuecalculations (loss, profits displays 166) for those user placed bidspreviously placed within a set time period (e.g., with the past seven[7] days). Setting such a time limit for the placed user bids that theBid program could process could be seen as also encouraging theparticipating merchant to conscientiously and timely review the userbids as they submitted through the Bid process to ensure viable merchantparticipation for the benefit of the Bid participating users.

In one possible embodiment, the bid meter screen 160 could be visuallypresented the bid amount window 168 as a horizontal oriented linearnumerical sequence (not shown), which generally displays 0 or zeroamount of dollars/cents on the left end of the sequence while showingincreasing values as the value range proceeds to the right end of thelinear numeral sequence. Associated with the linear numerical sequencecould be value indicators (e.g. moving labeled pointers—not shown) orother demarcating means that could point out or otherwise identify thosemonetary value positions upon the linear numerical sequence that setforth various values embodied by a Bid process for a particular productitem (e.g., these positions could include: the manufacturer's suggestedretail price of the item product, the merchant-set currently set priceof the product; the actual merchant purchase cost of the Bid productitem; all of values of the various User Bids placed by the Bidfunctionality for that selected product item [placed during theappropriate time frame] and the like.) The interactive sliding marker170 as operated by the participating merchant, the sliding mark could bemoved along the length of the linear numerical sequence. The “AcceptBid” button 172 to allow the participating merchant to denote asuccessful bid and close the biding process for the selected productitem. In one embodiment, the merchant acceptance of a bid at one valuewill be the acceptance of all bids at that value and greater for bidupon item.

Upon the opening of Bid Meter screen by the participating merchant, thesliding marker 170 could be initially presented towards the right sideof linear numerical sequence over an associated monetary value foreither the product item's retail price or highest placed bid, whicheveris higher in value.) The participating merchant then could click uponthe sliding marker 170 to move the sliding marker along the linearnumerical sequence. The sliding marker 170 could be moved towards theleft of the linear numerical sequence (reducing value grade) to come torest at a particular bid value (e.g., greater in value than theparticipating merchant's purchase cost of the selected product item)upon the linear numerical sequence and present the totalize number ofbids (e.g., at that particular bid value and higher.) The sliding marker170 also at that position could also display calculated the amount ofpotential resulting bid revenue for that position (should theparticipating merchant accept that particular bid value to close thebidding process). Alternatively, the participating merchant could alsoslide the sliding Marker 170 to the left moving away from the selectedproduct item merchant purchase cost towards 0 value to substantiallydisplay the merchant's loss that could be incurred by the participatingmerchant on that particular item or product if the selected bid was lessthan the selected product item merchant purchase cost.)

Once the participating merchant has determined the acceptable bid(price) for the selected product item and sets the sliding marker atthat desire bid price or value on the linear numerical sequence, theparticipating merchant could then activate (e.g., click upon) the“Accept Bids” button 184. Upon that activation of the “Accept Bids”button, then all of the placed bids under or to the right (e.g., ofgreater in value) the sliding marker could be processed by the idprogram (bid widget) as being accepted by the participating merchant assuccessful bids resulting in purchases to be completed by the web portalwhile all of the placed bids to the left of (e.g., of lesser value) thesliding marker would be rejected. To complete or finish out the bidprocess, the bid program would then charge those successful bid usersagainst their previously provided charge or payment information theirrespective values of their accepted bids. Once payments had beeninstituted without default, the java script function could parse througheach accepted bid and send each winning user a respective electronicconfirmation (e.g., email, text message, or alike) about the acceptedbid and the automated payment (charge); containing a suitablepurchase/payment confirmation means (e.g., a bar code or the like) orboth. The user then can either have the purchased selected product itemshipped to the location of his or her choice, or use the confirmationmeans to pick up the purchased selected product item at a convenienttime at the place of the participating merchant. The JavaScript functioncould then delete the bid from the bid program. After completing paymentarrangements (which could also make use of a checkout payment functioncompleting the charges to the payment interests of the success bid usersand obtaining said payment, could send the order to the merchant to befulfilled and other remaining bid completion functions (e.g., forwardthe purchase funds to the participating merchant in a suitable andacceptable manner.)

In one embodiment, the web portal could send a conciliatory message(e.g., email, text or alike) to those users whose bids wereunsuccessful. Such a message could politely indicate that their bid wereunfortunately not accepted by the Merchant and that bidding is closed onthat selected product item for the present time. The bid process couldthen delete those unsuccessful bids.

As show in FIG. 14C one possible process for operating the item bidding200 could tart with step 202, merchants placing the bid, wherein themerchant selects the bid item and enters the bid item through the use ofthe bid meter page. Then in step 204, the merchant enters through thebid page relevant economic information regarding the bid item. Then instep 206, with the users uses the internet web portal to search fordesired item. Coming upon the desired item, the user activates therespective activated bid button. Then in step 208, this activationcauses the drop down of the bid page to allow the user to place the bidvalue for the item with the bid database and has the bid value accepted.Then in step 210, the system can then generate dynamic economic factorvalues as the bids are placed for the item. At this time, prior to theend of the biding, the user can return to step 208 and delete orotherwise alter the placed bid value. In step 212, wherein the biddinghas ended the merchant may accesses the bid meter page again andsubstantially checks the values of the various bids with resultingdynamic economic factor values (profit/loss). The next step 214 has themerchant accepting the desired bid value. In step 216, the winning bidusers have their payment accounts docketed for payment of the won biditem, these funds are generally transferred to merchant (for payment ofwon bid items) who then generally fulfills the orders for the items ofwon bids, the system then generally deletes the bids (losing and won)from the bid database.

As substantially shown in FIG. 1A, on the outside of the main search bar36 on sides of the front page screen could be presented four framedinteractive streaming banner visual presentations labeled: My Media 112;Local Deals 114; Coupon Corner 116 and Special Offers 118. My Media 112and Local Deals 114 could be in a vertical tandem orientation on theleft side of the first page while Coupon Corner 116 and Special Offers118 could be in vertical tandem orientation on the right side of firstpage. As scrolled information is presented in the interactive streamingbanner visual presentation (each presentation having its own specializedinformation) and the user sees information that the user wishes tofurther access, then the user could “click” upon the displayed desiredinformation (e.g., a cursor via a front left tab of a mouse or directlytouch the desired presentation of a touch screen) to activate thatparticular presentation and obtain more detail regarding the desiredinformation regarding that presentation.

The three side column functionalities, “Local Deals” 114, “CouponCorner” 116, and “Special Offers” 118 could provide the user theopportunity to locate discounts, rebates and like on the items for whichthe user is searching offered by the merchants geographically proximateto the user as well as for special offers from partnered merchants(e.g., those merchants having special arrangements with the web portalproviders to participate in the side column selections.) The informationso presented in these side column functionalities could be in acontinuous stream presentation format, so the interactive identifyingtext for the particular side column (e.g., “Local Deals”114; “CouponCorner” 116; “Special Deals” 118 can be clicked upon by the user to loadthe respective side column information in the product item/searchresults display window 68 located below the main search bar 36.Simultaneously, the main search bar 36 is locked into respective sidecolumn information so displayed in the product item display window 68 sothat text inquires entered into the search text entry window 42 will besearched through the respective side column information. Alternatively,the user can manually scroll through the presented side columninformation using the scroll button 67 on the right side of the productitem display window. The search results could then be obtained throughsingle word text searches that are followed by use of the scroll button67 to move through the obtained search results obtained by the textsearch.

If there are no results from user text search, then the “No resultsfound” notification will be visually presented by the main search bar.An interactive refresh button could be present on the upper left side ofthe Search Bar 36 and when activated by the user could refresh all ofthe side column information so presented to user. When the user isthrough searching side column information, an interactive colored “X”button (proximate to a side end of the text window) can be activated bythe user to take the user back to the “home” or front page of the webportal.

It should be noted that while all four side column functionalities couldpresent their respective information through continuous scroll ortickertape presentation, some users may find the several scrollingscreens to be somewhat disconcerting and a distracting in conducting aproduct item search in the web portal. To alleviate or at least mitigatethis undesired effect, at least one embodiment of the invention couldallow the user to collapse the separate presentations of the four sidecolumn functionality into a single tickertape type presentation whereinall the information of the four side column functionalities aredisplayed in one scrolling ticker tape presentation at the bottom of thewebpage. This scrolling presentation could still be interactive in thatthe clicking by the user upon the desired passing information couldbring up a suitable response (opening a webpage featuring the localdeal, coupon, special corner) or otherwise allowing the user to accessthe selected social media information in greater depth.

As substantially shown in FIG. 15, the Local Deals side column 114 coulddisplay various local deals geographically available to the user basedon current Zip Code and surrounding area that the user (i.e., and theuser's www searching device) are physically located in, not just thearea of the user's residence. If the user is accessing the web portalwhile moving on the road or alike, the web portal could display thelocal deals available at user's current location (e.g., IP address databased geolocation tracking based on the server location being used bythe user to access the web portal). The user access the informationpresented by the Local Deals by clicking upon the interactive “LocalDeals” text at the top of the Local Deals side column tab 114.

Upon the activation of the Local Deals button 114, the productitem/search results display window 68 below the main search bar thatdisplays all the local deals being scrolled through the Local Deals sidecolumn. The best local deal search results could be obtained throughsingle word text searches and then using the scroll button to scrollthrough the obtained text search results. As substantially shown FIG.16, the Local Deals search results in the product item/search resultsdisplay window 68 can be narrowed down to a more limited number ofentries. By clicking upon a specific desired Local Deal information,another internet browse page could be opened to the merchant websitethat offers the local deal in that user is interested and substantiallyallows the user to access greater information on that particular localdeal. As needed, the user could possibly download or printout though theuser's electronic device the necessary information to take advantage ofthe desired local deal. To return back to the web portal home page, theuser could click out of the merchant's webpage to collapse the second

As substantially shown in FIG. 17, Coupon Corner side columnfunctionality is a means search for one or more coupons as provided byparticipating merchants (e.g., merchants from the group of merchantswhose items make up the mega database). Upon the user's activation ofthe Coupon Corner identifying text, a coupon product item display window120 could open in the middle of the page to generally display all thecoupon information being scrolled through the Coupon Corners sidecolumn. The best coupon search results could be obtained through singleword text searches in the search bar text window and then using thescroll button to scroll through the obtained text search results. Asshown in FIG. 18, the coupon search results can be furthered narroweddown to a more limited number of entries. By clicking upon aninteractive specific desired coupon information, the system could openanother internet browser page to the merchant website that offers thecoupon in that user is interested and to substantially allow the user toaccess greater information on that particular coupon from the merchant'swebsite. As needed the user thorough the user's electronic device couldpossibly download or printout the necessary information from themerchant's website to take advantage of the desired coupon. By closingout the second webpage, the system would return the user to the homepage of the invention's web portal.

As substantially shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the user's activation ofthe interactive Special Offers side column could open a special offersdisplay window 122 in the middle of the page below a search bar textwindow to generally display all the special offer information variousoffers and advertisements from web portal's partnered merchants that isbeing scrolled through the Special Offers side column to the user. Ascroll button to the right side of the special offers display windowallows the user to scroll through all of the displayed special offersand advertisements shown in the special offers display window. In orderto get the broadest returns from the search bar text window from a textsearch, the user should use single-word searches and then use the scrollbutton on the right side of the screen to look at the results. If noresults are displayed, then there are no special offers available forwhat user were searching for. The blue refresh button located on theleft corner of the Search Bar could refresh the offerings presented inthe Special Offers column. By clicking upon a specific desired couponinformation in the special offers display window, the system could openanother internet browser page to the merchant website that offers thespecial deal that the user is interested and to substantially allow theuser to access greater information from the merchant website on thatparticular special offer. As needed the user could possibly download orprintout through the user's electronic device the necessary informationto take advantage of the desired special deal. By closing out the secondwebpage, the user could return to the home page of the web portal.

My Media side column 112 is a social media functionality that generallyrequires the user to first go through a registration process through theinvention's web portal to allow the user to give to the system necessarypersonal user information, personal preferences and necessarypermission/authorization to access third party websites. This allows thesystem as requested by the user to continuously update and display thethird party website information upon user activation. This continuouslypresented and update information allows the user to access selectedthird party website provided information (e.g., news, social media,financial information) from third party websites.

As substantially shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the social mediafunctionality can present a list of interactive media selection buttonsthat scan be scrolled through (e.g. through “up” and “down” buttonsappearing at the top of the column—not shown.) Each category button canbe labeled and control the presentation of a certain category of data bythe tickertape display screen 126 (e.g., continuous horizontal scrollingof said data) located along the bottom of the front page. Datacategories afforded by these selection buttons can include: stockquotes, news, weather, Instagram, Facebook and the like. When the useractivated a particular category button, that data, information or thelike as represented by that category label of the button will bepresented in a continuous horizontal scrolling fashion in the tickertapedisplay 126. More than one category button 124 can be activated at atime to have several categories of information being presented in thetickertape display 126. If a certain category of information is nolonger desired to be displayed upon the tickertape display 126, the usercan click off the appropriate category button 124. The web portal systemmay also present in the tickertape display information that is notdirectly controlled by the user (e.g., user directed advertisements, andthe like.)

The tickertape display 126 located along the bottom of the front page 38presents a horizontal scrolling or moving display of informationregarding on the user's personal social media, email, news, weather,stock, targeted advertisements for the user; and alike for the use. Thetickertape display 126 may further provide interaction in that thetickertapes displayed information bits may actionable in certaincategories. For instance, a news item (e.g., CNN news feed article) whenthe user clicks upon it causes the system to open another or secondwebpage of news organization website that is providing the news item,the second webpage providing greater information on desired news item.

In one possible embodiment, the system upon receiving an email thoughthe users email program could cause the ticket tape display 126 to shownan interactive information message regarding the incoming email (e.g.,displaying email information such as date/time, sender, title andlike—not shown). When the user activates the information message, thesystem could bring up the users email program in a separate oroverlaying window to allow the user to access the full incoming email.

Similarly, a newsfeed from a social media web portal (such aswww.facebook.com) in that user has an account could be displayed anotherinteractive information message. The user upon “clicking” on thatinformation message could be taken to a Wizard message window (notshown) to handing communications with the social media web portal. Forexample, when clicking a newsfeed from a friend's Facebook timeline thatis displayed in the Tickertape display 126, the user could be taken tothe Facebook social media to be able to post to that friend's timeline(not shown.)

The web portal could display within the scrolling tickertape display 126the user's social media accounts (not shown) as well as user's selectedstocks, local weather forecasts, news and other information. Thetickertape display 126 could allow the user to have immediate access totheir social media, weather, news, stocks and other information whilethey are using the Main Search Bar 36 to search for product items in themega database or on the internet.

Registration

For the use of the personal social media and other informationpresentations and for other functionalities (e.g., the Bid button) asprovided by the web portal to the individual user, the user may berequired to engage in a registration process register with the internetweb portal. As substantially shown in FIG. 21, at the top of the homepage 38 of the web portal, could be an inactive text of “New User SignUp”. The user may activate (e.g., click upon) the interactive text tobring up an overlay registration screen as substantially shown in FIGS.22 and 23.

The registration screen can present a three sections of labeledtext/check box windows, the first section (“signup”) 132 could be usedfor entering user personal identification information; the secondsection (“my media”) 134 could be used for entering the user's socialmedia preferences and the third section (“alerts”) 136 could be used forestablishing how and when the web portal should issue an alert messageto the user. The text windows for the “signup” can could include thosetext windows labeled and accepting information of user's email address;user password selection; user full name, age and gender; user full mailaddress information; and user's cell phone and cell carrier. The cellphone, cell carrier and user name information could be used by the webportal for prompt (real-time) sending of text alerts and messages fromthe web portal to the user. User Zip code information could be used bythe web portal to appropriately select local deals to be presented tothe user. The user birthday information could be used by the web portalto generally ensure the user are of legal adult age (those users not oflegal adult age lack capacity to contractually purchase items generallyshould be excluded from the web portal's registration practice.)

The windows for My Media section 134 could be a set of check boxesrespectively labeled live Facebook updates; live Instagram updates;weather; news; stocks and the like through which the user could check toselect having the web portal obtain form those media sources presentreal time information through the scrolling tickertape screen at thebottom of the homepage.

The windows for the Alerts section 136 if the user activated send theuser alerts and during what portions of the day. Two check boxes couldallow the user to indicate that the user whether the user would like toreceive alerts and in what format (e.g., text, email or both.) Two timerange windows (using drop down time lists, one list for selecting thebeginning time for the no message time period and one list for selectingthe ending time for the no message time period) could be used to allowthe user to set two separate time periods during the day when the userdoes not want to receive alerts and the like from the web portal. Inthis manner, if the user is participating in price change alert forspecific product item and the price change occurs during a period oftime selected by the user not to receive such alerts, then the webportal will then hold the alert until of the end of the specified timeperiod to then send the alert to the user.

At the bottom of the registration screen could be an interactive buttonlabeled “Submit Application and Send Verification Email” 138. Proximateto that submit button 138 could be the message “By clicking submitbelow, you agree to our Terms of Service. View our Privacy Policy”. Theterms of service and privacy policy could respectively be interactivetext that upon user activation could open a separate web page displayingthe web portal's terms of service information or privacy policy to allowthe user to review the terms of each as needed. Activating the Submitbutton would load the previously entered user information into the webportal's operating system and associated databases as well as act as aconfirming act binding the user to the terms of the Web portal's Termsof Service and Privacy policy. If the user does not wish to complete theregistration process, the user could click interactive “X” button at thetop of the screen to close out the registration screen without enteringany information placed in the screen entries by the user and returningthe user back to the homepage.

As substantially shown in FIGS. 24, 25 upon further activation of“Submit Application and Send Verification Email” button, the web portalusing information submitted by the user during the initial registrationprocess issues an new account email to the user with a click on link ora URL address to copy and paste into a web browser search bar to open acompleted registration webpage 142 that confirms that the user as beingregistered with the web portal. An interactive button on this pageappropriately labeled when activated by the USER will close out thecompleted registration webpage and return the user to the home page ofthe web portal.

As substantially shown in FIG. 26, at the homepage, when the usersubsequently signs onto the web portal by clicking the interactivebutton labeled “Login” which could bring up an overlay Login screen 144with ID text window (e.g., to be filled in with the email previouslysupplied by the user during registration) and Password text window(e.g., to be filled in with the password previously selected by the userduring registration.) The Login screen could further present theinteracted Reset Password text that upon activations could replace theLogin screen with a password reset screen (not shown) to allow a user,after properly entering required user security and ID based informationin approximate text windows will allow the user to reset the passwordpreviously being used for Login by the user. If the password is notbeing reset, after the proper user identification information has beenentered in the ID text windrow and Password text window, the user canclick upon the interactive Login button to complete the sign into theweb portal and be returned to the homepage.

As substantially shown in FIG. 27, upon login, if it is the firstlogin/sign in since the user's initial registration with the web portal,then the user could be directed “Verify Your Media Settings” web page146 of the internet web portal which shows what social media selectionsthe user enabled during registration. This webpage further displays textthat explains to the user what the web portal can and cannot do inrelation to the user's social media pages (e.g., Instagram andFacebook). To activate further connection between the web portal andusers social media sites (so that the social media sites can directappropriate update traffic to web portal for appropriate presentation tothe user, the user can activate the interactive Continue button.

This initial connection process may entail obtaining more registrationinformation and additional permissions from the user to ensure that theuser has given proper and understanding authority to web portal toaccess the user's social media website(s) and to continually obtain userinformation and data from the respective user's social media website(s).Anytime the user again logs onto the web portal, user could be presenteda different screen (the web portal heretofore having obtained andconfirmed the user's permission to access these social media website[s])to activate the desired social media selections for that particularlogin period utilizing an easier and more abbreviated format that skipsobtainment and confirmation of user's permission.

The user in activating the Continue button could be directed to theselected social media webpage (e.g., the Facebook login page.) Assubstantially shown in FIG. 27, the user at that webpage could then signonto the user's account with the social media webpage. As substantiallyshown in FIG. 28, the user's action of signing in on the user's socialmedia website sign in or login could then present the user with anotherrequest permission webpage 148 from the social media website identifying(e.g., in displayed text) that the social media website is requestingpermission from the user to allow the social media website to send tothe web portal certain user related information (e.g., public profile,friend's list, news and photo feeds, friend's photos from users socialmedia website account.) This text could further inform that acceptanceof these conditions by the User will not authorize the web portal topost information upon the user's social media website account. Assubstantially shown in FIG. 29, once the user accepts these conditions(e.g., by activating an interactive Continue button), the InformationBeing Sent webpage can then be closed and be replaced with yet anothersocial media website webpage “posting user's social media account to Webportal”. In this webpage, the social media website is seeking the user'spermission or authority to allow the user to access the user's socialmedia account through the web portal. Upon the acceptance of theseposted terms at this webpage, the user can then directly access throughthe internet web portal (e.g., through activation of the social mediaside column's display tabs and alike) the user's account at the socialmedia website.

As substantially shown in FIG. 30, if the user has initially authorizedweb portal access to another or second social media website (e.g., suchas sharing-based website that allows a user to share photos and videoswith others, such as Instagram.) That second social media website couldhave an authorization webpage brought up by web portal during thesubsequent registration process, which may allow the user to grantpermission to the second social media website to allow access by webportal to user's information as hosted by the second social mediawebsite. The social media logon information obtained by the web portalduring this subsequent or secondary registration process will be storedfor security purposes on the web portal's encrypted database. The abovetwo descriptions for procedures to allow the web portal to secure socialmedia website logon authorization and obtaining user permission to do soand could be considered exemplary, with other types of procedures beingused with other social media websites and application being used withthe invention as well.

After the user has completed the part of the additional registrationprocess that allows for the web portal to gain access to andobtain/display user information and data from the desired social mediawebsites, any subsequent login by the user onto the web portal is muchfaster because the social media website(s) access information is alreadyobtained (e.g., the web portal's automatic authentication process forthe social media websites is enabled) so the user need only to decidewhether to have the information sent from the social media websites bepresented by the web portal. As substantially shown in FIG. 31, thelogin/log on second screen could advise the user that in case of failureof the automatic authentication process (due to a server failure orinternet service provider temporary lack of service) the user could beredirected to the directly to the social media website logon screensthat the user have used before to log onto the user's social mediawebsite(s). Further, if the user is unsure of the appropriate passwordsor simply does not want to incorporate the checked social media updatesinto the web portal, the user could just uncheck the applicable socialmedia interactive check box or boxes and then could activate (e.g.,click upon”) the interactive orange “Continue” button. If the userunchecked any of the social media boxes and click the orange Continuebutton, user could be taken to the web portal Home Page, but the usegenerally would not otherwise have access to user's social media withinthe web portal during that login/log on session. As such, the user couldhave access to the other remaining other web portal functions.

CONCLUSION

Although the description above contains many specifications, theseshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but asmerely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferredembodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention shouldbe determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents ratherthan by the examples given.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of accepting a bid for purchasing anitem offered for sale through an internet web portal comprising thefollowing steps: (A) listing for bid with an internet web portal bidprogram of an item being sold by a merchant, the merchant beingpreviously registered with the internet web portal; (B) accessing theinternet web portal bid program by a user to obtain of information forthe bid item, the user being previously registered with the internet webportal; (C) placing with the internet web portal bid program by theregistered user of a bid for the item, the bid containing a price thatthe registered user will pay for the bid item; (D) accessing theinternet web portal bid program by the registered merchant to obtain bidinformation on one or more bids for the bid item as placed by registereduser and any other biding registered users; (E) presenting by theinternet web portal bid program to the registered merchant of one ormore economic factors other than the bid price to assist the registeredmerchant in accepting at least one bid from the one or more bids for thebid item, and (F) processing as a sale by the registered merchant of atleast one bid from the one or more bids for the bid item.
 2. The methodof claim 1 wherein the economic factors are processed by the internetweb portal bid program based on item information provided by theregistered merchant.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the economicfactors being changed are dynamic economic factors while the economicfactors that are not being changed are static economic factors.
 4. Themethod of claim 3 wherein the static economic factors can be one staticeconomic factor from a set of static economic factors consisting ofmanufacturer's suggested retail price, merchant's actual purchase priceof item, merchant's item sale price.
 5. The method of claim 3 whereinthe dynamic economic factors can be one dynamic economic factor from aset of dynamic economic factors consisting of the registered merchant'sloss at accepting the one bid for the bid item to be processed as a saleby the registered merchant, the registered merchant's profit ataccepting the one bid for the bid item to be processed as a sale by theregistered merchant.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising a stepof changing the one or more presented economic factors after the closeof bidding by at least changing a numeral amount of the minimal bidvalue that the registered merchant would accept for a bid.
 7. The methodof claim 1 wherein the economic factors are not displayed to theregistered user.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing of onebid further includes a step of processing for sale any other bids forthe bid item whose bid price is the same or higher than the accepted onebid.
 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising of a step of visuallypresenting data to the user through a scrolling ticket tape display, thetype of data presented is social media as selected by user.
 10. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising a step of searching by theregistered user though an online single source retail item mega databasecontaining the retail inventories of over seventy-five thousand retailmerchants that the registered user accesses through the internet webportal to identify an item to place a bid upon.
 11. The method of claim1 wherein the registered merchant is one of over seventy-five thousandretail merchants whose combined retail item inventories are listed in anonline single source retail item mega database that user accessesthrough the internet web portal to identify an item to place a bid upon.12. A method of accepting a bid for purchasing an item for sale throughan internet web portal comprising the following steps: (A) listing forbid with an internet web portal bid program by an item being sold bymerchant; (B) placing a bid for the item with the internet web portalbid program by the user, the bid containing a price that the user willpay for the item; (C) accessing the internet web portal bid program bythe merchant to obtain bid information on one or more bids for the biditem as placed by the user and any other bidding user; (D) presenting bythe internet web portal bid program to the merchant of one or moreeconomic factors other than bid price to assist as those factors relateto a particular bid for the item; (E) changing at least one value of theone or more economic factors by changing the value of a bid amount thatthe merchant will be willing to accept as a winning bid; and (F)processing by the merchant of at least one winning bid from the one ormore bids for the bid item as a sale.
 13. The method of claim 12 whereinthe economic factors are processed by internet web portal bid programbased on item information previously entered by the merchant.
 14. Themethod of claim 12 wherein the economic factors whose values are notchanged by changing the value of a bid amount that the registeredmerchant will accept as a winning bid can be one economic factor from aset of economic factors consisting of manufacturer's suggested retailprice, merchant's actual purchase price of item, merchant's item saleprice.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein the economic factors whosevalues are changed by changing the value of a bid amount that themerchant will accept as a winning bid can be one economic factor from aset of economic factors consisting of the merchant's loss at acceptingthe one winning bid for the bid item to be processed as a sale by themerchant, the merchant's profit at accepting the one winning bid for thebid item to be processed as a sale by the merchant.
 16. The method ofclaim 12 wherein the economic factors are not displayed to the user. 17.The method of claim 12 wherein the processing by the registered merchantfurther comprises a step of using the economic factors along with itembid price by the merchant to accept at least one winning bid as the atleast one bid for processing as a sale.
 18. The method of claim 12wherein the processing as a sale by the merchant further comprises astep of using the economic factors along with item bid price by themerchant to select at least winning bid for bid item as the at least onebid for processing as a sale.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein theprocessing of one bid as a sale further includes a step of processingfor sale any other bids for bid item whose bid price are the same orhigher than the at least one winning bid.
 20. The method of claim 12further comprising the step of using the economic factors along withitem bid price by the registered merchant to reject bids for the biditem as at least one winning bid as the at least one bid for processingas a sale.